On 3 June 2025, India Foundation, in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre, organized a panel discussion on “India-Pakistan Relations in Light of Operation Sindoor.” The panel featured Shri Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director (Publishing); Ambassador Ruchi Ghanashyam, former Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; and Ambassador T.C.A. Raghavan, former Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). The session was moderated by Captain Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation.
The opening remarks were made by Shri Chengappa, who noted that Pakistan’s narrative gained some traction internationally, partly due to its effective information warfare, which occasionally overshadowed India’s tactical successes. He further analyzed the escalatory dynamics that unfolded during Operation Sindoor, detailing how the operation triggered a cycle of retaliation, with Pakistan responding through airstrikes and heightened border conflicts.
Ambassador Ruchi Ghanashyam focused on the limitations of a soft diplomatic approach in dealing with Pakistan. Drawing on her extensive experience in diplomatic engagements with Pakistan, she argued that soft treatment has its boundaries, particularly when engaging a nation whose military establishment thrives on a conflict-driven narrative. She expressed support for Operation Sindoor, viewing it as a necessary shift toward a more assertive stance, and underscored that diplomacy alone is insufficient to address the challenges posed by Pakistan’s military posture and its support for terrorism.
Ambassador Raghavan emphasized that following Operation Sindoor, India carries a significant responsibility to ensure effective deterrence against future provocations from Pakistan. He acknowledged the gravity of the decision to launch the operation, describing it as a weighted but necessary and justified step in response to Pakistan’s actions, particularly in the context of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. His remarks underscored the importance of India maintaining a strong and credible posture to prevent similar incidents moving forward, highlighting the strategic imperative of deterrence in the evolving India-Pakistan dynamic.
